Skip Hire FAQ's

What can I put in a skip?

You can put a lot of different kinds of waste in a skip, however rather than list what you can put in your skip, here is a list of items that can't be.

Liquids

Oil, petrol, diesel

Paint & Cans of paint

Fluorescent tubes

Gas canisters and gas bottles

Asbestos

Electrical appliances & equipment

Batteries

Tyres

TVs & computer screens

Fridges, freezers and air conditioning units

Plasterboard

Hazardous & toxic materials

Clinical or medical waste, including syringes

How high can I fill my Skip

One other thing to bare in mind is that a skip cannot be overfilled. When filling your skip you must make sure that it is a level load. If you do order a skip and fill it so that waste is poking out and above the sides, you risk the skip company charging you a lot more at the point of collection, or being asked to remove all the excess waste before they will take the skip away.

What skip size should I hire?

As you may all ready be aware skips can come in lots of different sizes – from the very small to the very large. Skips are measured in cubic yards. A cubic yard is 1 yard (3 foot or 0.92 metres) high x 1 yard wide x 1 yard deep and is roughly the size of two standard washing machines. The most common skip you may have seen in a residential street would either be 6 or 8 cubic yards. These sized skips are both referred to as a ‘builders skip’ so if you are comparing prices with more than one company and they talk about a builders skip make sure everyone is talking about the same sized skip in yards. The ideal skip size for you depends on not just the amount of waste you are creating but also how much space you have to put the skip. Obviously the larger the skip, the cheaper it works out per cubic yard of waste removed, but make sure you have enough waste to fill it, otherwise you’ll end up paying for thin air. Also, bear in mind that most councils will refuse to have a skip larger than 8 yards placed on a public highway. You also need to make sure you can put the skip where you want it, unfortunatly some times more than one skip is needed just because you don't have the space for a larger skip.

How long can I hire a skip for?

A skip will usually be collected within 1 or 2 weeks of delivery but if you need it to be removed sooner or later, just ask your skip company. The other thing to bear in mind if the skip is being placed on a street is the duration of your skip permit and also any parking suspension in place. Both cost money, so the longer you have the skip for the greater the extra charges, speak to your skip hire company about the charges and work out what is best for you.

Are there any access issues for skip lorries?

As a guide, skip lorries are normally at least 8.5 feet wide and some as wide as 9.5 feet. If the entrance to your property is not wide enough for that sort of vehicle also bear in mind they can also weigh at least 7.5 tonnes, so the ground will need to be strong enough to withstand that sort of weight.

How much should I expect to pay for skip hire?

Skip hire prices vary depending on size skip you require, the waste material you are planning on putting in it and where in the country you are based. Remember that you may also require skip permits or parking bay suspensions.

What if I require labour to load the skip?

Skip hire companies just hire out skips they do not offer waste removal services.If you require this, you may actually be better off with a man and a van team visit http://wastekingrubbishremoval.co.uk for more information.

What is a skip permit or skip license?

If you wish to have your skip on a public highway, you will need a skip hire permit and, if it’s in a controlled parking zone (ie. on a single yellow line or in a residents parking or pay & display bay), you will also need a parking suspension. Both of these cost money and take at least a few days to arrange, contact us for more information.

What happens to the stuff I put in a skip?

It all depends on which skip hire company you use. It depends on the type of stuff you put in the skip and where in the UK you are based. Some skip hire companies operate using their own waste processing facilities and some use a third party facilities. There is nothing bad or wrong about a skip company taking your waste to another waste facility, indeed most skip companies operate in this way, but they should be able to tell you which tip it goes to and how much of your waste avoids landfill.